How to Find the Best Keywords for SEO
Keyword research is the secret sauce for every successful blog or website with published content. Whether you’re a newbie blogger or a seasoned digital marketer, mastering the art of keyword research is like finding the Holy Grail for SEO success.
While most people are afraid of keyword research, it doesn’t have to be a daunting task if you have a solid strategy to guide you. In this article we will discuss how you can find the best keywords for SEO to rank your blog posts and website.
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Why Bother with Keyword Research?
Imagine you’ve created something amazing that will have a positive impact on the lives of everyone who encounters your creation. Of course you will want the world to know about what you have created. You want it to see the light of day. Now understand the role keywords play in actually getting people to learn about what you have to share with them.
They are the words and phrases that your target audience type into search engines when searching for a solution, more information or knowledge to help them. By knowing which keywords your audience uses, you can deliver your content on a silver platter right when they’re hungry for it.
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Here are five tips to help you find the best keywords for search engine optimization.
Step 1: Brainstorm in Your Readers’ Shoes
Think about what your readers would be type into Google, Bing, Yahoo, DuckDuckGo or any other search engine. Write down keywords related to your topic and get creative. For example if a possible keyword phrase is “sending traffic”, consider adding “driving traffic” or “building traffic”. Using synonyms, related terms and especially long-tail keywords are a great way to drill down and find low competition keywords for your content.
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Step 2: Know Your Competition
If you know who your competitors are, you will be able to uncover what is working for them and create your own keyword success formula. Search for niche specific keywords and incorporate them into your content. Tools like SEMrush or Ahrefs allow you to peek at what keywords are driving traffic to other sites.
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Step 3: Listen to Your Audience
Social media, forums, and Q&A platforms like Quora are goldmines for keyword inspiration. People often ask questions or discuss topics related to your niche. By tuning into these conversations, you can discover what words they’re using and what problems they need solving.
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Step 4: Use Efficient Keyword Research Tools
Keyword research tools come in handy because they save you time and help you drill down into data you might not find on your own. Google’s Keyword Planner, Ubersuggest, and Moz Keyword Explorer are all great tools for researching keywords without spending money. They’ll provide you with data on search volumes, competition, and even offer keyword suggestions you might have missed.
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Step 5: Sort, Filter, and Prioritize
Your keyword list can quickly turn into a long list of words and phrases, leaving you feeling overwhelmed and uncertain how to proceed. Organize it by relevance, search volume, and competition. Focus on the keywords that strike the perfect balance between high search volume and low competition – these are your golden nuggets.
Keyword research is your ticket to SEO success. It’s the compass that guides you along the journey to reaching your audience and building a steady flow of consistent traffic. So, start brainstorming, check out your competition, listen to your audience, utilize the tools at your disposal, and prioritize your keywords wisely. Taking these steps will not only give you the keyword knowledge you need, they will also provide the SEO your website requires to succeed.
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How to Find Keywords for Your Website
Keywords are the heart and soul of your website’s SEO strategy. They’re the magic words that can help you rank higher in search engines and attract your target audience. Whether you’re a tech-savvy blogger or a small business owner just starting out online, learning how to find keywords for your website is a skill worth mastering.
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1. Know Your Niche
Before you start looking for keywords, you need to understand your niche like the back of your hand. What topics are you passionate about? What’s your website’s main focus? Knowing your niche is like having a treasure map—it guides you to the keywords that matter most.
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2. Start with Seed Keywords
Seed keywords are the foundation of your keyword research. These are the general terms related to your niche. For instance, if you’re into fitness, your seed keywords could be “weight loss,” “strength training,” or “healthy recipes.” Write them all down; you’ll need them as a starting point before delving deeper into your research to come up with less competitive phrases for which you can rank.
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3. Leverage the Power of Tools
When you enter your seed keywords into tools like Google’s Keyword Planner, Ubersuggest, and Ahrefs Keywords Explorer, you will then be presented with even more ideas your target audience is searching for. Enter your seed keywords, and these tools will provide you with a list of related keywords along with valuable data like search volume and competition.
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4. Focus on Long-Tail Keywords
Long-tail keywords are longer and more specific phrases that often have less competition. They might not have massive search volumes, but they can drive highly targeted traffic. For example, “low-carb vegan dinner recipes” is a long-tail keyword. This example keyword is far more targeted than, “vegan recipes”. Incorporate these gems into your content to reach your ideal audience.
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5. Listen to Your Audience
Your audience knows best. Pay attention to the questions they ask, the problems they want to solve, and the words they use. Social media, online forums, and customer reviews are great places to find insights into your audience’s language and interests. Take some time to read through comments on your blog. When your readers provide feedback, use that information to craft additional content.
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6. Create a Master Keyword List
As you uncover keywords, create a master list that you can build on as you work on future blog posts. This will serve as your reference point when crafting content and optimizing your website.
Finding keywords for your website doesn’t have to be stressful. You just need a strategy that works for you and will consistently bring more visitors to your website. With the right tools, methodical research, and a deep understanding of your niche, you can easily find keywords that will drive organic traffic to your site. With the right keyword research techniques your website will rank higher in search results and get more traffic.
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6 of the Best Free Keyword Research Tools
As discussed above, keyword research tools save you time and help you find keywords for your niche. When used properly, keywords will lead search engines and more importantly, your audience, straight to your digital doorstep.
While most keyword research tools do cost money (or at least provide more when you pay for a subscription), you can still get good results using free tools or the free version of some paid tools. Below are six free options that will help in your keyword research to make your pages rank and get more traffic.
The OG of keyword research tools, Google Keyword Planner is your go-to if you’re looking for data straight from the horse’s mouth. It provides insights into search volumes and competition levels for keywords, making it an essential tool for anyone diving into the SEO universe. Plus, it’s completely free, but you’ll need a Google Ads account to access it.
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2. Ubersuggest
Ubersuggest, founded by digital marketing entrepreneur Neil Patel, is a user-friendly, feature-packed tool. It offers keyword suggestions, search volume data, and even insights into competitors’ top-performing pages. The free version is robust enough for most users, making it a go-to choice for many content creators and online marketers.
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If you’re all about understanding what questions your audience is asking, AnswerThePublic is your new best friend. It visualizes search queries in a beautiful, easy-to-digest format, helping you uncover long-tail keywords and content ideas. The free version offers a limited number of searches per day, but it’s a goldmine of inspiration.
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Keywords Everywhere is like having a keyword researcher as your browser extension. It provides search volume, CPC (cost per click), and competition data for keywords as you surf the web. This handy tool is available for both Chrome and Firefox and it is perfect for those who want real-time keyword insights.
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5. Soovle
Imagine a search engine on steroids, and you’ve got Soovle. It compiles keyword suggestions from various search engines, including Google, Bing, Amazon, and YouTube, all in one place. This makes it a powerful tool for e-commerce businesses, bloggers, and video content creators. Best of all, it’s entirely free to use.
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If you’re a fan of Chrome extensions (who isn’t?), Keyword Surfer is a must-have. It displays search volume, CPC, and related keywords right in your Google search results. It’s simple, efficient, and yes, completely free.
You don’t need to break the bank to conduct keyword research. These six free tools offer a lot of insights and data to help you navigate the competitive landscape of SEO. Whether you are a newbie blogger or a seasoned digital marketer, these tools will help find the keywords your site needs to start ranking.
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